Of all the countries that have automotive manufacturing, the French build the most unique, sometimes weird, and often technologically advanced cars on the planet. Yes, many of their designs are (to put it mildly) different from what every other country does, but those differences are what make them so cool. Our Pick of the Day is a French car that I would not hesitate to buy: this stunning 1973 Citroen SM offered for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in St. Louis.
Of all the French cars that are on my list, with the exception of the lowly Renault Fuego (please let me know if you have one for sale!), my favorite has always been the Citroen SM.
The development of the SM began way back in 1961 as a sporting version of the DS sedan. After a few years and a bunch of prototypes, Citroen decided to go beyond that idea and instead build a luxury GT – something rare in postwar France.
The SM was truly a technological tour de force. Features include hydraulic self-leveling suspension, headlights that turn with the wheels, DIRAVI (the fully powered self-centering steering system with only two turns to lock), a teardrop body shape with a narrow rear track and a Kamm tail that gave it a drag factor of just 0.26 Cd, and four-wheel disc brakes with the brake pressure dependent on the rear weight distribution. If those were not enough, you could even option the SM from the factory with carbon-reinforced resin wheels that were as strong as the standard steel wheels yet less than half the weight.
When shopping for an SM today, it is important to buy the very best example available as all these features, combined with the Maserati V6 powertrain, make buying a project the easiest way in the world to set money on fire.
The dealer describes this as a 1973 SM that has been in the care of Citroen enthusiasts since being imported to the United States from Italy in 2016. It is a highly desirable European model, which means it features the desirable covered headlamp design, electronic fuel injection, factory air conditioning, and the five-speed manual gearbox. Attractively finished in its original color of Gris Largentiere Metalisse (code ACO82) over a factory-correct black leather interior, this Gallic paean to automotive progress has all its proper details intact, including factory wheel covers and period-correct Michelin radials.
The seller states that upon its arrival stateside, the new owner had this SM serviced and sorted by Citroen specialists R&R Automobile Restorations of New York. Receipts also show the Maserati V6 was serviced by Italian car experts Dominick European Car Repair in White Plains, New York. Records show the hydraulics, braking, cooling, and electrical and exhaust systems were all completely serviced, making this car drive as good as it looks.
The interior is as nice as the exterior, with the amazingly comfortable leather seats in excellent, broken-in condition. This car is equipped with electric windows and air conditioning, plus the amazing-looking oval instruments, oval steering wheel, and chrome manual shifter.
Driving an SM is unlike driving any other car in the world—even a bit different than any other Citroen. The SM is a true GT with a great Maserati V6 under the hood, which gives the car much more power than any other Citroen of the era. Combined with the Citroen suspension, brakes, and steering system, it makes the SM somewhat spaceship-like compared to contemporary GTs. The SM handles well, is supremely comfortable, and is probably the most comfortable GT ever.
As I stated above, you never want to budget-shop when buying an SM as doing so could lead to service bills in excess of the car’s value. On the other hand, buying one this nice will deliver years of a unique driving experience, not to mention it’s a car that will gather a crowd wherever you take it. Given the asking price of $64,500, you would be hard-pressed to find another car at that price that can do what this 1973 Citroen SM does.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
